The Players Championship Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

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The 2026 Players Championship begins on March 12th from the world-famous TPC Sawgrass course in Florida. The Players is the PGA Tour's flagship event and is often known as the unofficial fifth major of golf. Steeped in tradition, the event attracts the world's best golfers, who will seek to get their hands on one of golf's most important prizes.

In this preview of this year's event, we will give you the latest Players Championship odds as well as some Players Championship betting tips that might be handy if you are having a bet. We will also give you our very own Players Championship prediction for who we think will be victorious this year.

Rory McIlroy won last year's event, but who will win this year? Read on as we look forward to what should be a great weekend of golf from March 12th to 15th.

2026 Players Championship Golf Betting Odds

The odds for this year's event have not been released yet, but as soon as they are, we will have them here for you from a host of Ireland's sportsbooks. One of the top sites for online betting in Ireland is TonyBet, so check them out when the Players Championship betting odds are released.

Before having a bet on the 2026 Players Championship or any sports event throughout the year, why not check out our bookmaker reviews page? Here, you can find out more about any of our listed betting sites.

Although the latest Players Championship odds have not yet been revealed, below we have listed 10 of the world's top players who you should keep an eye out for once the prices have been updated.

Players
Odds
Scottie Scheffler
N/A
Rory McIlroy
N/A
Collin Morikawa
N/A
Ludvig Aberg
N/A
Xander Schauffele
N/A
Tommy Fleetwood
N/A
Hideki Matsuyama
N/A
Justin Thomas
N/A
Russell Henley
N/A
Shane Lowry
N/A
Players
Scottie Scheffler
Rory McIlroy
Collin Morikawa
Ludvig Aberg
Xander Schauffele
Tommy Fleetwood
Hideki Matsuyama
Justin Thomas
Russell Henley
Shane Lowry

The Players Championship Betting Tips & Predictions 2026

Below you can find a selection of Players Championship betting tips ahead of this year's tournament. Keep an eye out for any free bet offers betting sites are offering because you may be able to make use of them on the tips provided below. Remember when betting on golf, though, that the fields are usually large and, in tournaments like the Players, highly competitive, meaning it can be difficult to pick a winner.

  • Tip 1 – Scottie Scheffler to Win

    Scheffler is undoubtedly the world's No. 1 golfer. He won 6 times on the PGA Tour last season and has already won on the tour in 2026, so he carries good form into this early part of the season. He is a 2-time winner of the Players in 2023 and 2024 and will be looking for a 3rd title to further position himself amongst the game's elite and enhance his place as the world's best golfer.

    On the 2 occasions he has won at Sawgrass, he has shot four rounds in the 60s. His 64 in the final round of the 2024 tournament to win the event by 1 was world class, especially as he was 5 back heading into that final round.

    He is the favourite in just about every tournament he enters these days and will probably be again when he lines up at Sawgrass.

  • Tip 2 – Rory McIlroy to Win

    If Scheffler is going to be challenged, it will be no surprise to see that challenge coming from Rory McIlroy. The Holywood man gave unbridled joy to all his fans on this island and around the world when he finally completed the Grand Slam of all 4 golf majors last year by winning the Masters. He also won the Players Championship in 2025, so he will be confident heading back to a place he has won before, having also won back in 2019.

    He, like Scheffler, can put himself alongside the great Jack Nicklaus by becoming a 3-time winner of this great event, something that will surely motivate McIlroy as he returns to the Players.

  • Tip 3 – Collin Morikawa Top 10 Finish

    The American rediscovered the winning formula by emerging victorious at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in early February. That was Morikawa's first PGA Tour win in nearly 3 years, something that should give one of the game's great ball strikers confidence as he heads to TPC Sawgrass.

    Morikawa is still looking for that statement performance at Sawgrass, with his best performance coming in last year's tournament when he finished in a tie for 10th place. He has shot some beautiful rounds of golf at the course, though, and if he can put it together over four rounds, his great start to 2026 may just get even better.

Bonus Players Championship Betting Insights

In this section of our 2026 Players Championship betting preview, we will look at some other players who might be worth looking at when the odds come out due to the value that might be available on them doing well.

  • Tommy Fleetwood

    The Englishman had a great 2025, culminating in him winning for the first time on the PGA Tour as well as winning the FedEx Cup at the Tour Championship.

    He also has a solid record around TPC Sawgrass with 3 top 20 finishes, including a T5 at the 2019 event. He finished T4 at Pebble Beach and will look to make his mark as the big tournaments come thick and fast over the next few months.

  • Xander Schauffele

    Schauffele is a 10-time winner on the PGA Tour and has 2 T2 finishes to his name in the Players Championship. Those runner-up results came in 2018 and 2024, while he also won 2 Majors in 2024 at the Open and the PGA Championship.

    His record to date in 2026 is nothing to write home about, with 1 Top 20 finish out of 3 events played. That came at Pebble Beach, but Schauffele has a few tournaments before the Players to play himself into form. He can't be completely ruled out, especially out of the Top 10 or Top 20 markets, so keep an eye out.

  • Justin Rose

    The revitalised veteran has certainly found some form once again over the last 6–8 months or so. He won the 2025 St Jude Classic back in August before helping Team Europe defend the Ryder Cup in September.

    He then kicked off 2026 in some style by winning the Farmers Insurance Open at the beginning of February to claim his 13th PGA Tour title. Rose will look to use his experience, precision and composed nature to try and contend for his first Players Championship, a tournament he has 3 Top 10 finishes in.

  • Chris Gotterup

    The world No. 7 has already doubled his PGA Tour victories with 2 in 2026. He won the Sony Open in January before following that up with a win at the Phoenix Open in February.

    He only turned professional in 2022, so he has really made his mark on the game with his 4 Tour wins. He showed his ability to deal with pressure by beating Hideki Matsuyama in a sudden-death playoff to win in Phoenix.

    His first visit to the Players came last year when he missed the cut, but given the development in his game and the form he has shown, it might be worth having a look at what odds are on offer on Gotterup in all of the main markets ahead of the 2026 Players.

  • Hideki Matsuyama

    Matsuyama has been a model of consistency so far in 2026 without actually getting over the line to date. He lost a playoff at the Phoenix Open to Chris Gotterup and has had Top 20 finishes at Pebble Beach, the Farmers and the Sony Open.

    Matsuyama is an 11-time winner on the PGA Tour and has had 4 top 10 finishes in the Players Championship.

Breaking Down TPC Sawgrass: What You Need to Know

TPC Sawgrass is located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, southeast of Jacksonville. The course was designed by Pete and Alice Dye and was first opened 46 years ago in 1980. It has become synonymous with its hosting of the Players Championship and is viewed as one of the most challenging golf courses .

Designed specifically to host the Players, the course contains a stadium feel much like other sports, with its signature hole undoubtedly the 17th, known as the "Island Green". This famous Par 3 is one of the most recognisable and most difficult holes in all of golf. It measures only 137 yards from tee to green and consists of nothing but a 78-foot green, but it is surrounded by water.

The course is designed to challenge the very best golfers in the world, with its narrow fairways, thick rough, strategically placed bunkers, and lightning-fast greens often getting the better of the biggest names in the sport.

It measures 7,189 yards and is a par 72, with the course record jointly held by Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge, who both shot rounds of 62 in 2025 and 2023, respectively.

Best Players Championship Betting Sites

When taking part in the 2026 Players Championship betting, it is important to know which of the best online bookmakers you should be using. Below you will find our recommended betting sites where you will find the most competitive Players Championship odds.

DirectionBet

visit directionbet

DirectionBet has become synonymous with offering punters some of the most competitive odds on huge sporting events, such as the Players Championship. When it comes to betting on golf, there is no shortage of markets for fans to bet on, including outright winner markets as well as top 5, 10, and 20 betting angles.

New customers to the site can also expect a hefty welcome bonus. Register with DirectionBet, and you will receive a welcome offer of a 100% matched bet to the value of €100 when you enter the code WELCOME100.

For full terms and conditions on any of the site's promotions, check out their website, and for any other information about DirectionBet and what they offer punters, why not visit our DirectionBet review page?

Betovo

betovo-Players-banner

Betovo launched in May 2024 and straight away caught the eye of Irish punters with its extensive sports betting offerings. Its user-friendly interface and competitive odds on all major sporting events, including the Players Championship, making it an attractive sportsbook for sports fans.

What helps Betovo stand out from the crowd are the attractive betting promotions and features it offers users. This includes an attractive welcome bonus of up to the value of €250 when you deposit €10. To find out more about their offers and promotions, check out our Betovo review page.

TonyBet

join-tonybet

If you are a fan of golf betting, then you should really check out TonyBet. The site offers some of the best odds around on over 39 sports, including the 2026 golf season, which will include 2026 Players Championship betting. Fans will be able to bet on a host of Players Championship markets, including outright winner, betting w/o markets, Top 10 and Top 20 markets, as well as 1st round leader. They also offer customers the exclusive opportunity to be part of their VIP Club, which comes with a range of benefits.

Register with TonyBet, and they will match your opening deposit 100% up to the value of €100. All you need to do is register and deposit €10.

To find out more, look at our TonyBet review page.

The Players Championship Golf Betting Markets

Ireland's best golf betting sites will offer punters a vast array of betting markets for the 2026 Players Championship betting as well as other top-quality golf tournaments throughout the year.

Below, we have listed the main markets available to bettors when it comes to golf betting.

Outright Winner

This is a very easy bet to understand for even the most inexperienced of golf punters. With this bet, you are simply betting on the player you think will win the 2026 Players Championship. For example, a potential winner of the Players is Scottie Scheffler. He will probably be the shortest-priced player in the market, highlighting his position as the best player in the world.

Round Leader

Betting on a certain player to lead the tournament after Rounds 1, 2 or 3 is another popular golf betting market. This might be a good bet when you are betting on a player who can shoot low scores but maybe doesn't have the consistency to challenge over 4 rounds, or on a player you think will be amongst the leaders from start to finish.

Wire-to-Wire Winner

An interesting bet because of its rarity and great difficulty level is backing a wire-to-wire winner. In the Players Championship, it will be especially difficult to do, given the level of the playing field, but once more, the most likely contenders to do this would be Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy, given their history in the event. Keep an eye out for what odds bookies are offering on any player going wire-to-wire.

Betting Without

This market involves the main players in the outright winner market being removed, so that you can bet on a player without many of the main contenders. The price of the players goes down, but it is still a very competitive market and gives punters plenty of opportunities to claim a win.

2-Ball/3-Ball Betting

This is simply head-to-head betting, really. In the opening 2 rounds, players will go out in 3-balls, and after the cut at the end of Round 2, they will go out in pairs. In 3-balls, you are betting on which of the 3 players will score best, and in 2-balls, you are betting on who will score the best out of the 2 players paired together.

Hole-in-One

Another rare opportunity to win money is the hole-in-one market. At TPC Sawgrass, there have been 39 holes-in-one recorded, with 14 coming at the iconic 17th hole.

Each-Way

Some bookies may pay out on the top 5 or top 8 positions by the end of play on the final day. An each-way bet splits your bet in half, with half going on the win and half going on the player placing in either the Top 5 or Top 8, depending on the bookie.

The Players Championship Key Facts

  • Stat 1
  • Jack Nicklaus is the only 3-time winner of the Players. 7 players have won it on 2 occasions, with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy both on that list.

  • Stat 2
  • Since TPC Sawgrass became the home of the Players in 1982, there have been 5 playoffs to decide the winner. The last of these came last year when Rory McIlroy clinched his 2nd Players title with a playoff victory over J.J. Spaun.

  • Stat 3
  • The prize fund in the 2026 Players Championship is $25,000,000, with the winner receiving $4.5 million. The tournament also offers the most world ranking points outside of the majors, with 80 points on offer for the winner.

  • Stat 4
  • Scottie Scheffler became the first-ever back-to-back winner of the event when he won in 2023 and 2024.

Recent Players Championship Winners

To help you find out what players have a history of winning this famous tournament, below we have listed the winners from 2012 up until the 2025 champion.

Year
Champion
Nationality
Score
2025
Rory McIlroy
Northern Ireland
-12
2024
Scottie Scheffler
USA
-20
2023
Scottie Scheffler
USA
-17
2022
Cameron Smith
Australia
-13
2021
Justin Thomas
USA
-14
2019
Rory McIlroy
Northern Ireland
-16
2018
Webb Simpson
USA
-18
2017
Si Woo Kim
South Korea
-10
2016
Jason Day
Australia
-15
2015
Rickie Fowler
USA
-12
2014
Martin Kaymer
Germany
-13
2013
Tiger Woods
USA
-13
2012
Matt Kuchar
USA
-13
Year
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
Champion
Rory McIlroy
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler
Cameron Smith
Justin Thomas
Rory McIlroy
Webb Simpson
Si Woo Kim
Jason Day
Rickie Fowler
Martin Kaymer
Tiger Woods
Matt Kuchar
Nationality
Northern Ireland
USA
USA
Australia
USA
Northern Ireland
USA
South Korea
Australia
USA
Germany
USA
USA
Score
-12
-20
-17
-13
-14
-16
-18
-10
-15
-12
-13
-13
-13

BetInIreland's Wrap-Up

There is no doubt that the Players Championship is one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world. The prestige it holds amongst the sport is highlighted by the fact that it is referred to as the unofficial 5th Major. The tournament's esteem comes from the fact it shares so many traits with the 4 Majors. The high-quality field it always attracts is rivalled only by the Majors. The fearsome layout that immediately earns the respect of even the best golfers in the world also marks it as one of the most important tournaments of the year, as does the huge prize pot.

The Players Championship is truly one of the tournaments every player would like to have on their CV, and this year's tournament will be no different.

THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP BETTING FAQS

Who are the favourites to win the 2026 Golf Players Championship?

The odds have not yet been released, but we can expect to see Scottie Scheffler topping the market given his form and continued greatness on the PGA Tour. Last year's winner, Rory McIlroy, is another to expect near the head of the betting.

What is the prize money for the winner of the 2026 Players Championship?

The prize pot for the 2026 Players Championship is $25 million.

Where is the Players Championship in 2026?

TPC Sawgrass will hold the 2026 Players Championship, as it has done since 1982.

What are the best bookmakers for betting on the Players Championship?

As has been mentioned above, the best betting sites for Players Championship betting are TonyBet, DirectionBet, and Betovo.

Can I use the betting tips for the Players Championship provided here?

Yes, just check out the Players Championship betting tips provided above.

Where can I watch the Players Championship live in Ireland?

For golf fans in the UK and Ireland, the best place to check out all the action from Sawgrass is Sky Sports Golf.

Gaa betting

Liam is a sportswriter from County Laois in Ireland who specializes in delivering content on GAA and Football matters (though he does see himself as somewhat of a tennis aficionado also!). Liam has written about All Ireland Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships, Premier League, Champions League and International Football offering expert opinion and match previews and predictions. Occasionally even getting some right!

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